Gathered with more than 100 other faith leaders in a downtown Minneapolis plaza, Archbishop Bernard Hebda prayed for peace and justice on the eve of the March 8 trial of a former city police officer in the police-custody death of African American George Floyd.

“Loving God, you are the source of all that is good in our lives,” the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis said in the gathering’s opening prayer. “And so, we come to you with grateful hearts, grateful for the gifts that you’ve bestowed upon those that are gathered here. Grateful for the plans that you have for our cities. Grateful for the way in which you are going to bless us beyond anything that we can imagine.

“We come to you today as a people who thirst for justice, but we hunger as well for peace.”

With security fencing as a backdrop at the North Plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center, where Chauvin’s trial was being held, and with a sign that read “Pray for MN” behind the podium and loudspeakers, the gathering was organized under tension felt across the Twin Cities.

Floyd’s May 25 arrest, part of which was captured on video by a bystander and shared with social media, sparked protests and riots across the Twin Cities and around the country. Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree unintentional murder and second-degree manslaughter, was shown in the arrest with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd, handcuffed and face down on the ground, begged to breathe and then became unresponsive. Floyd had been accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 to buy cigarettes.

Chauvin, who is white, was fired after the incident. Three of his colleagues also were fired and they face a joint Aug. 23 trial on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. All four defendants are out on bond.

Chauvin initially also was charged with third-degree murder, and recent legal moves resulted in reinstatement of that charge March 11.

In addition to the prayer gathering, Archbishop Hebda released a video and statement March 5 asking for prayers throughout Chauvin’s trial, which got underway March 9.

“Whether you can take 30 seconds or 30 minutes, let us commit to praying each day for peace in our communities, peace for the Floyd family, and peace for our first responder sisters and brothers working to protect us. Please join me as well in praying for an end to the scourge of racism in our country,” the archbishop said in the video, shown below, and in his statement, both of which are on the archdiocese’s website.

A version of this story first ran March 6; it was updated March 11.